Stellantis Ventures, the company enterprise fund of Stellantis N.V., has invested in SteerLight, the developer of a brand new technology of high-performance LiDAR (Mild Detection and Ranging) sensing expertise.
Using silicon photonics expertise, which mixes a common semiconductor materials with the pace of pictures, the SteerLight LiDAR senses the encompassing surroundings in three dimensions with greater decision and precision, and at a decrease quantity manufacturing value, than at the moment obtainable LiDAR techniques.
The expertise has the potential to present drivers of future Stellantis model autos higher efficiency in quite a lot of superior driver help techniques (ADAS), together with automated driving.
“A central side of our Dare Ahead 2030 initiatives is figuring out groundbreaking applied sciences that ship substantial worth to our prospects on a big scale,” mentioned Ned Curic, Stellantis Chief Engineering & Know-how Officer. “Automated driving enhancements stay a high precedence at Stellantis. The sport-changing work at SteerLight can allow enhanced and widespread ADAS functions.”
“We see an important profit from having Stellantis’ company enterprise fund acknowledge our innovation so we are able to unlock large-scale adoption of LiDAR for industrial and mobility functions,” mentioned François Simoens, co-founder and CEO of SteerLight. “Our new LiDAR expertise is essential to help new companies within the automotive business, and we’re trying ahead to working collectively to advance the following technology of autos.”
SteerLight, a by-product of the French CEA-Leti expertise middle, employs Frequency Modulated Steady Wave (FMCW) LiDAR based mostly on silicon photonics expertise that places the system on a microchip. The system is strong (no shifting elements) and compact, maximizing flexibility for car engineers. It overcomes challenges of at this time’s LiDAR expertise for autos – part measurement and excessive value. The FMCW expertise gives extremely correct depth and velocity knowledge whereas resisting interference from the encompassing surroundings and different customers.
Since its inception in 2022, Stellantis Ventures has invested in 12 startups and one mobility fund, targeted on creating cutting-edge applied sciences that may enhance outcomes for particular person prospects and society as an entire, the corporate mentioned in a media launch.
